Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-03-02
rnE GOVERNORS sHORTconlHe.
He Clnnot Repeat the Miracle Of the
LOaves and Fishes in the Dis
pensation Of Offices.
Details u Important Measures Before
the Legislature-A Sitting Com.
hiittee Needed.
OUR BUDGET FROM BISMARCK.

the Le4lklhtuFe-A SlIuuX NOms
iaittee Needed.
OUR BUDGET FROM BISMARCK.
The present legislatu lure is an interest.
ing body. 1t appears anxious to do right.
perhaps over anxious, and like u parry a.
tempting to sit on two chairs falls to the
tioor between both.
The arrival Of Governor Church and his
induction into Office, together with the
strain upon the public nerve in regard to the
yarious nominations, called a halt in the
progress Of legislation, for a few days, so
that little Roadway was made. The pub
lie can hardly understand the agony OF a
city full Of office -seskers, the mercury 40
degrees below zero, q wild bl Lizard singing
their funeral dirges in a Nova Zsmbla ac-
cent, while the man who had their desti-
MES III his hands was buried in n snow
drift two hundred miles long. In this
dilemms Jim Hill came to the rescue, and
his shovel brigade Of thirteen hundred men,
with a line OF iron.horse cavalry stormed
the nov tanks and rescued the beleagured
Governor.
The Governor appears like a man OF
good common sense. He does not put
or" style, but in the most unaffected man
ner comes into the hotel where he boards
and walks about chatting with every one
in an easy and pleasant way. He has
rooms over the Capital National Bank,
where he passes his time WHEN not ut the
Capitol.
The ceremony Of swearing in a Demo-
cratic Governor is not attended with much
circumstance or poMp. In the case OF
Mr.. Church it was Thoroughly Democratic.
Judge Trip administered the oath in the
presence of the other judges. French
alone being absent.
The evening Of the Governors arrival
was the one that Witnessed the severest
tension to the nerves Of the two or three
hundred applicants. Had Governor Church
been in q position to repeat the miracle Of
the loaves and fishes, and apply it to the
Offices OF Dakata, he might have ap-
peased the territorial appetite. 1t was
ioaves and fishes that were SO eagerly
hunted, but the Governor, though a
Church man, was unable to conjure, by
any species of divination, from the few in.
significant Offices enough to quiet the hum
ger Of those who Lad sought him in the
wilderness Of Bismarck.
When the names Of Ward and Benton
were sent in for Auditor and Treasurer,
there was a look of blank d smay on hun
dreds of faces. Ward had been mentioned
as a candidate for Treasurer; hut Benton!
who had ever heard his name? No one.
The wiseacres, who wink and nod, look
wise, and whisper in tones that show they
are loaded with State secrets, wore a look
OF blank surprise. The Governor had
knocked them out on the first round, and
they stood paralyzed.
1.-THE nominations remained for three DAYS
the chief topic OF conversation, and they
were discussed with varying comment. 1t
is proper to remark that the lobby and the
candidates., coming as they do from all
parts OF the Territory, composed of so
many leading men, form a most important
factor in moulding Dakota opinion, and it
seemed agreed that if heretofore a serious
split existed in the Democratic party, the
Governor did not consider it serious enough
to recognize.
The confirmation of the nominees BY the
Council must.have proven gratifying to the
Governor. A certain rumor has zone forth
that q faction in the North, generally
styled the old gang" tried to prevent Mr..
Benton's confirmation. There is no foun-
dation for the rumor. However distasteful
the elevation Of MIR. Benton may have been
to his enemies, they should be credited
with taking their medicine straight, and no
squirming.
In matters of Legislation, the House has
been largely busted with the Elliott bill in
relation to giving the Railroad Commits
sioners increased powers. Unless this bill,
or n similar in spirit, is passed, the
office of Railroad Commissioner is very
likely to be abolished. Able men in the
Council have served notice on the railway
advocates that if the covers Of the Com
missioners are not increased the Office will
be abolished.
Ihs Council for several days were re-
viewing O revenue bill, and only finished it
on the 2lst, at which time it adjourned to
meet on Wednesday the 23l. The bill has
many good features, iut in Committee of
the Whole has been so loaded down that 1t
is likely 10 be defeated. Evidently Con-
gress did a good thing for Dakota when it
prohibited special legislation. There is
now SO much difficulty in getting jobs
through that it taxes the brain of the most
astute lawyer to put up q slick job and
carry it through. The law Is a hard blow
to county organizers and county seat To-
Gators.
There is still fighting over the seed wheat
appropriation, but having gone through the
House, the opinion prevails it will pass.
North and Central Dakota appear to de-
mand the appropriation, and extraordinary
~ ~ 70 ~ tA'o WANING ~ oCSiuo bIhCIy tIlht
$4,000 of Territorial money will be put
to buying seed grain for needed farmers.
The bill contemplates the money to be
paid back.
Sentiment has changed somewh It on tho
matter OF q Territor al veterinary, with a
fat salary and unlimited money at his COM
mand. Il think said y former memter
yesterday, that the bill is not altogether in
the interest of the stockmen, but in that of
few who will have a good fat job" Much
the same fate is in store for the coal oil
inspector. Councilman Foster, of Sphinx,
is the father Of the coal oil bill, and ap-
pears terribly in earnest. Its passage in
the Council was merely q compliment 10
be doctor.
Commissioners have been this week in
speeding the public institutions at James,
town, and are expected to 60 at once to
Sioux Falls, Yankton and other points.
Another left on Saturday for Montana to
confer with q committee OF that Territory
in regard to join. action in relation to the
stock interests. and taxing cattle that seem
to have heretofore escaped public burdens.
Grand Forks is here IN force to lobby nm
appropriation for the establishment Of IN
Agricultural College at that point. North
Dakota claims that the interests Of that
section demand fsi an institution, SINH
lar to the school at Bookings. There is
every prospect that Grand Forks will sue
coed.
Superintendent Jones is watching his
school bill closely. He has attended every
meeting Of the committee considering it, and
will be recommended with but few changes.
The bill has some, indeed many, excellent
features, and should it run the gauntlet Of
the Assembly will prove highly beneficial.
The feature OF n Territorial Educational
Board is, perhaps, premature, and may
prove an expensive luxury. There is con-
siderable opposition to hat feature, md it
il likely to he stricken out.
Already the bills in both houses aggre-
gate nearly 500. Many are duplicates,
they cross and dovetail into each other in q
way that is perfectly bewilderin,. A sift-
ing committee will have a large fsll TO
operate in, md, il it cleans out
the chat, but little will be left.
Until the appointments are disposed Of
legislation canno progress satisfactorily.
Interest now centers in the appointment